Electric switch



29, 1933- H. E. NORVIEL 1,924,252

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed Dec. 30, 1951 Harry Z1 Norviel PatentedAug. '29, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Harry E. Norviel, Anderson,Ind., assignor to Delco-Remy Corporation, Anderson, bid, a

Corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1931, Serial No.

583,893. Renewed July 30, 1932 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-11) This inventionrelates toelectrical switches for automobiles, and more particularly toswitches of the rotary type, such as are adapted to be mounted adjacentthe lower end of a 8 steering column of an automobile and to be operatedby a shaft extending through the column and actuated from the upper endthereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide for a switch, in whichthe movable switch elements are of the floating type, means foreffecting a more positive and eiiicient contact with all of thestationary terminal members. This is accomplished by a spring of novelconstruction which yieldingly holds the movable switch elements inengagement with the switch block or the stationary contacts carriedthereby. More specifically it is an object of the present invention toprovide improvements in the spring means which operates upon aswitch-element of the floating type in which the movable contact plateis of a triangular formation and having three contact projectionsarranged in a circular row concentric to the axis of the contact plate,two of the projections being substantially diametrically opposite. These:projections are urged toward the stationary contacts upon the switchterminal block by a single conical, helical spring so constructed andarranged that the spring will exert and maintain substantially equalpressure upon all of the projections in all positions of the movableswitch elements bearing against the terminal block.

Futher objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the switch structure.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the switch structure.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views takenon the lines 4-4 and 55respectively, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a spring used in the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, 20 designates -a switch housing or casingpreferably of cupshaped formation having a rear wall 21 provided with anaperture 22. A mounting bracket 23 is attached to the wall 21 in anysuitable manner, such as spot welding or the like. The bracket is.bolted or otherwise secured to the lower end of a steering column (notshown) of an automotive vehicle. The bracket 21 has an aperture inalignment with the aperture 22 and through which the lower end of anactuating rod 25 extends, the rod being rotatably mounted .in thesteering column and having a suitable lever or other actuating means torotate the rod at its upper end.

The cup-shaped housing 20 is closed by a wall or terminal block 27secured in place by tongues or tangs 28 extending from the peripheraledge of the housing'20 to engage notches 29 provided on the peripheraledge of the block. The tangs are bent over, as clearly indicated in Fig.3. The block is preferably made of insulating material and supportsaplurality of terminals 30, the terminals are shown in the form ofrivets having heads flush with the inner surface of the block 27 toallow the movable contacts, to be described, to ride freely upon or xiiithe heads. These terminals are arranged in a circular row which will beconcentric with the axis of the switch controller when the block is inposition upon the housing.

Within the housing 20 is a dielectric contact disc or carrier 32 havinglugs 33, 34 and 35, each notched as at 36. The carrier has a centralaperture '37 provided with keys or projections 38 that fit into notches39 of a tubular driving shaft 40, this construction provides a drivingconnection between the carrier 32 and the shaft 40 and-will permit thecarrier to move axially thereof. The carrier is provided with aplurality of recesses 41 adjacent the wall 21 of the housing. The wall21 has a plurality of bosses or projections 42 struck inwardly andarranged in a circular row to register with certain of the recesses 41in the carrier to provide a detent or ratchet action when theprojections engage one of the recesses.

A triangular shaped contact member 45 has a plurality of tongues 46adapted to have a sliding engagement within the notches 36 and guide themember 45 axially while turning from one position to another and preventrelative 10o rotational movement of the member 45 with respect to thecarrier 32. The tongues 46 are bent, as at 47, behind shoulders 48 onthe carrier so as to prevent removal of the member 45 from the carrierand limiting the axial movement of the member with respect to thecarrier.

Interposed between the members 45 and the carrier 32 is a conical,helical spring 50 surrounding the shaft 40,'as illustrated in Figs. 3and 4. The spring 40 is longer on one side than on the other, as shownin detail in Fig.

6, and so constructed that the ends of the spring are substantially inalignment longitudinally with each other. One end 51 of the spring 50 isbent at an angle to fit into a recess 52 in the carrier 32 and the otherend 53 engages a point adjacent a projection or boss 55 formed in thecontact member i5. The plate as is provided with two other bosses 56 and5'? similar to boss 55. o The bosses 56 and 57 are substantiallydiametric to each other and arranged in a circular row with the boss 55concentric to the axis of the plate 40. The spring 50 is so arrangedwith respect to the carrier 32 and the plate that the pressure exertedby the spring will distributed substantially equal upon the contacts 55,56 and 57. When the terminal blocir is secured to the housing, it willforce the contact member l5 and carrier 32 a short distance toward eachother and. compress the spring 50, so that the pressure of the springwill tend to keep an equal pressure upon all or" the contacts and. ingood engagement at their contact ends with the terminals on the bloclr32. The spring 45 also urges the recesses 41 over the pro-= jectors 42on the wall 21 to retain yieldingly the contacts 55, 56 and 57 and thecarrier in a desired position. This arrangement of the spring alsoprevents the member 45 from rocking when plate 4.5 and disc assembly ismoved from one position to another.

The end wall 21 is provided with a partially sheared portion 60 bentinwardly and interposed in the circular path of movement of the ,lugs 33and 34 to form a stop limiting the rotation of the disc in eitherdirection of rotation.

The actuating rod passes through tubular shaft 40. The shaft is securedto the rod by the tightening of a nut 61 which wedges against .the shaft25 a plurality of threaded fingers 62 struction shown in the drawing,the present invention discloses a switch structure comprising a support28 having stationary contacts 30 insulatingly mounted thereon, a rotarycontact plate having contact projections 55, 56 and 57 spaced unequally,'a member 32 drivingly connected with the plate 45, means for turningsaid member 32, and a spring located between the member 32 and plate 45for urging the plate 45 toward the support 28, the spring being conestructed and arranged to exert pressure eccentrically with respect tothe axis of the plates 45 and 32 and along a line passing approximatelythrough the center of grouping of the movable contact projections 55, 56and 57. In other words, the spring 50 is so constructed that it willapply pressure to the contact plate 45 at a point near the contactprojection which is relatively close angularly to the contactprojections 56 and 57 which are relatively remote from each otherangularly.

The spring 50 is preferably a helical coil spring so wound that itslength dimension, parallel to its axis, is greater on one side than theother. The spring 50 is so located that the side of greater length willbe between the driv ing member and a point of the contact plate 45 nearthe projection 55.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a pre ferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all. coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In an electric switch the combination comprising; a housing having aback carrying stationary contacts; a contact carrier; a contact platehaving bosses adapted to engage said stationary contacts slidablysupported upon said carrier; a coiled spring interposed between saidcarrier and plate urging said bosses against said switch back, saidspring having one side longer than the other to provide an even tensionupon said bosses against said back; and means for rotating said bossesinto engagement with said stationary contacts.

2. In an electric switch the combination comprising; a housing; a switchback for said hous ing; a shaft extending through said housing and back;a contact carrier; a movable contact plate having bosses adapted toengage said stationary contacts slidably supported upon said carrier; acoiled spring about said shaft and located between said carrier andmovable contact, said spring having one side longer than the other withone end anchored to said carrier and the other end engaging a partadjacent one of said bosses; and means for rotating said shaftconnecting said bosses with said stationary contacts.

3. In an electric switch, the combination comprising; a casing havingparallel walls, one of said walls having a plurality of stationarycontacts; a movable contact carrier; a contact plate having bosses toengage said stationary contacts drivenly connected with said carrier andhaving axial movement therewith; a shaft having means for receiving aportion of said carrier for driving said carrier and permitting relativeaxial movement between same; a coiled spring surrounding said. shaft andlocated between said carrier and contact plate, said spring having oneend anchored in saidcarrier and the other end engaging a point on saidcontact plate to provide an even distribution of spring pressure on eachof said contact bosses against said stationary contacts.

4. In an electric switch, the combination comprising; a housing havingan end wall; a closure wall for said housing providing stationarycontacts; a driving shaft extending through said housing; an axiallyyieldable contact assembly actuated by said shaft, said assemblycomprising, a contact carrier, 2. contact plate slidably supported bysaid carrier and having projections adjacent said closure wall; and aspring surrounding said driving shaft and having one end held by'saidcarrier and the other end bearing against a point near one of saidprojections providing an even stress upon all of said projections towardsaid closure wall.

5. In an electric switch, the combination comprising; a housing havingan end wall; a closure wall for said housing providing stationarycontacts; a driving shaft extending through said housing; an axiallyyieldable contact assembly actuated by said shaft, said assemblycomprising, a contact carrier, a triangular shaped contact plate havingprojections and arranged in tion of said plate and carrier, and a coiledmagma spring located in axial alignment between said contact plate andcarrier for forcing said plate and carrier toward their adjacent walls,said spring having one end anchored in said carrier and the other endengaging a point adjacent one of said projections to thereby evenly andyieldingly press said projections against said closure wall.

6. In an electrical switch of the class described, the combination of asupporting disc; means for rotating said disc; a contact plate connectedwith said disc to rotate therewith, said plate having contact points,two of which are substantially opposite and a third arranged in acircular path with respect to said contacts; and a coiled spring inaxial alignment between said disc and contact plate, one end of saidspring attached to said disc and the other end engaging said thirdcontact exerting even pressure against said contact plate for yieldablyholding said plate against stationary contacts during rotation of saiddisc.

7. In an electrical switch of the class described, the combination of asupporting disc; means for rotating said disc; a triangular shapedcontact plate having slidable connections with said disc to be rotatedthereby, said plate having contact points located adjacent said slidableconnections, two of said points being substantially opposite and theintermediate contact point arranged in a circular path concentric withsaid contact plate; a terminal block having circuit terminals arrangedin the path of said contact points; and a single spring having one endadjacent said intermediate contact for pressing against said plate forcausing all of said contacts to be held with substantially the samepressure against said terminal block.

8. An electric switch comprising, in combination a support; stationarycontacts insulatingly mounted on said support; a rotary contact platehaving contact projections spaced unequally; a member drivinglyconnected with the plate; means for turning said member; and a springlocated between said member and plate for urging the plate toward thesupport, said spring applying pressure to said contact plate at a pointnear to a contact projection which is relatively close angularly tocontact projections which are relatively remote from each otherangularly.

9. An electric switch comprising, in combination a support; stationarycontacts insulatingly mounted on said support; a rotary contact platehaving contact projections spaced unequally; a member drivinglyconnected with the plate; means for turning said member; and a helicallycoiled spring located between said member and plate for urging the platetoward said support, said spring being so wound that its lengthdimension is greater on one side than on the other and located so thatits side of greater length will be between the driving member and apoint of the contact plate near to a contact projection which isrelatively close angularly to contact projections which are relativelyremote from each other angularly.

10. An electric switch comprising, in combination; a support; stationarycontacts insulatingly mounted on said support; a rotary contact platehaving contact projections spaced unequally; a member drivinglyconnected with the plate; means for turning said member; and a helicallycoiled spring located between said member and plate for urging the platetoward said support, said spring being so wound that its length dimension is greater on one side than on the other and located so that itsside of greater length will be between the driving member and a point ofthe contact plate near a projection which is relatively close angularlyto contact projections which are relatively remote from each otherangularly, said member and contact plate having driving connectionswhich fix the contact plate in angular relation to said member.

11. An electric switch comprising in combination; a support; stationarycontacts insulatingly mounted on said support; a rotary contact memberhaving contact projections spaced unequally; a member drivinglyconnected with said contact member; and a coiled spring located betweensaid rotary contact member and driving member, said spring beingattached to one of said members and adapted to urge said contact membertoward said support, said spring being constructed and arranged to exertpressure toward said contact member at a point adjacent a contactprojection which is relatively close angularly to contact projectionswhich are relatively remote from each other angularly, said drivingmember and contact member having driving conliiii lid lar relation tothe driving member.

HARRY E. NORVIEL.

